JACKIE ROBINSON BALLPARK BECOMES TOBACCO FREE

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - A new era has officially begun at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, with today's press conference announcing the ballpark as a tobacco free facility moving forward. The press conference was held as part of The Great American Smokeout.

Tobacco use is now barred within the gates of Jackie Robinson Ballpark for all attendees, employees and athletes. The event, and initiative, is sponsored by Tobacco Free Florida and the State of Florida.

Some quotes from today's press conference and guests speakers

"This is a step in the right direction. As the only professional sports team here in Volusia County, here in Flagler County, it's our commitment to our community to be more than just a baseball team, but to be role models. And to use the platform that we've been giving with historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark to make a difference every single day." - Tortugas team President Ryan Keur

"Here in 2017 we will welcome about 175,000 people to this ballpark over the course of Daytona Tortugas games, Bethune Cookman games, concerts, charity runs, you name it. In 2018 we're looking to host a quarter of a million people. We want to have 250,000 people walk through these gates and every single one of them will walk through tobacco free. That's something we're really excited about. I think we're moving in the right direction and we can not thank you enough for the support." - Tortugas team President Ryan Keur

"This will help continue this great ballpark, which has been around for so long, and continue, each and every year, to get better and better. That doesn't always happen in places when you have 100 year old ballparks, that it continues to get better each and every year. This is something, with healthy environments, that we look to do each and every day." - Tortugas team President Ryan Keur

"Sincerely, on behalf of the residents of Daytona Beach, I'd like to thank the Tortugas for showing leadership. Each community thrives on great leadership from it's corporate partners and those who make things happen. And I can't think of a better, more fitting form of leadership than to go smoke free in a facility that pays homage to one of America's great athletes in Jackie Robinson." - Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry

"[The Tortugas are] our only professional sports team. So it's a place where we come together as a community and our young people have to come here. And we are setting the example that we would like to see them hake hold of. So I really want to say thank you." - Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry

"This is tremendous progress for our Volusia County. To be able to have a place like this, and to have the Daytona Tortugas support our community and our partnership, it really is a blessing." - Dr. Diana Lee, Director of Odessa Chambliss Center for Health Equity at Bethune-Cookman University & Chairperson of the Tobacco Free Volusia County Partnership

"Thank you very much for being part of this and thank you for the support you provide in making our community a healthier place." - Kristen Mialki, Florida Department of Health in Volusia County

"The biggest thing I want to share: Over the last three years, through our Friday Night Done Right activities, over 3,000 at-risk youths have attended sponsored events here at this park." - Amanda Hoch, Outreach Coordinator for One Voice for Volusia

"Over 600 kids were actually fed here, in this very pavilion. They got to meet Shelldon, they got to meet the baseball players that would come and walk around. And to hear them at their tables saying "I want to do that when I grow up" and "I want to stay healthy", you know, they're excited about taking pictures with Sheriff Chitwood. Those kind of things are memorable here at this park." - Amanda Hoch, Outreach Coordinator for One Voice for Volusia